CYCLE OF TEMPTATION

You can win every time.

You don’t have to be bound to anything. You are not weak and helpless. You are strong and able to resist every temptation. You do have what it takes.

You can be tempted and not sin. Jesus was tempted by the devil and He did not sin.

Jesus resisted every temptation of satan with the word of God – you can too.

Every time you win a cycle of temptation, the devil does not back off. He lurks around waiting for a more favorable time. He did that to Jesus:

“And when the devil had ended every [the complete cycle of] temptation, he [temporarily] left Him [that is, stood off from Him] until another more opportune and favorable time.”  Luke 4:13

However, the devil never found another favorable time to tempt Jesus because He lived by the Word of God.

The devil attacked Jesus immediately after a victory, and when He was weak from the 40-day fast.

Be on guard -you are most susceptible to temptation at your weakest time and your strongest time.

When you are weak, the devil can bombard you with discouragement, doubt, fear and unbelief, and opportunities to slide back into past sins – stand your guard. Do not make decisions when you are weak. Rely on the strength of God and let Him carry you.

“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”  1 Peter 5:8

JUST THIS ONCE

You need to avoid the ‘just once’ game. When thoughts like, “I will do it just once and I would never do it again” or “one time doesn’t really make a difference” etc. start to cross your mind, you need to put a stop to it immediately and declare, “I can do all things through Christwho strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13

“Just once” is a deception. It never ends there. Once you open yourself up the first time, the devil seeks to gain more ground and plant the root of guilt. He tried it with Jesus when He was very tired and hungry.

“And he said to Him, To You I will give all this power and authority and their glory (all their magnificence, excellence, preeminence, dignity, and grace), for it has been turned over to me, and I give it to whomever I will. Therefore if You will do homage to and worship me [just once], it shall all be Yours.” Luke 4:6-7

Your destiny is more important than any pleasure that is being presented to you.

The grace of God is available to help you overcome every weakness and every temptation.

“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13

You are not helpless, you are powerful

                       

The attacks of the enemy start in your mind and it can end right there. You can take every thought captive by declaring the truth of God against every attack of the enemy.

Fight every battle of the mind with the word of God.

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5

When you fill your heart with the word of God, the Holy Spirit will quicken you to remember the right word when you need it. Invest in knowing God and His word. Nurture your relationship with God. He is your Father and He loves you.

Jesus died to give you abundant life, do not let anything deny you of that. Stand in your place of authority in Jesus and withstand every cycle of temptation with the word Of God.

“No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.” Romans 8:37